ANAKBAYAN holds protest in UP against Gloria’s planned lifetime rule

Youth group ANAKBAYAN today joined students, faculty, and employees of the University of the Philippines in a rally at the UP Diliman Campus condemning Gloria Arroyo’s run for Congress in 2010.

Arroyo was a guest at the inauguration of a new building in the Asian Center of the Diliman campus today.

“The signs are everywhere: she is preparing to rule the country forever” said ANAKBAYAN chairperson Ken Ramos.

The youth leader explained that should moves to change the Constitution push through, one probable change would be a Parliamentary-form of government. In such an event, Arroyo would become eligible to be elected to the highest position in the land, this time as Prime Minister.

He also slammed the Supreme Court decision allowing appointed officials who are running in the 2010 elections remain in their posts.

“This allows Gloria to use the full might of the government in ensuring her electoral victory” said Ramos.

At the center of such moves is her desire to escape prosecution from the many charges of corruption and human rights violations accumulated in her eight-year reign, he added.

“The only position she deserves to be elected is as mayor of a cell in the Bilibid” he said.

Ramos also warned of the implications of Arroyo’s candidacy on the investigation of the Maguindanao Massacre and the primary suspects, Datu Unsay Mayor Datu Andal Jr.

“Gloria needs the Ampatuan family, and her other allied warlords, more than ever to ensure that her allies are elected in droves on 2010. We are no longer surprised by the government’s foot-dragging in the Ampatuan investigation.”

The youth leader called on youths and students nationwide to form ‘welcoming committees’ to ‘greet’ Gloria Arroyo as she visits schools nationwide.

“But instead of flowers, we should give her rotten eggs and tomatoes which symbolize the rottenness of her rule” said Ramos. ###